Madhya Pradesh govt plans to regularise illegal colonies, buildings

BHOPAL: The state cabinet on Tuesday decided to regularise illegal colonies and buildings under the provisions of the Urban Land Ceiling Act 1976. "Illegal colonies and buildings will now be regularized. There are many such illegal residential colonies and buildings that exist in big cities of Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior. Regularising these colonies will benefit thousands of families who have been residing on these plots for decades," said law minister PC Sharma after the meeting. Minister for revenue Govind Singh Rajput explained that those occupants who have been served notices but have not paid their dues to regularize their buildings will be given a specific period to pay for mutation and diversion at 12% interest for the first year and then 15% interest thereafter. "Twelve months will be given for settlement of cases. Those who fail to make payment within this time will be evicted," the revenue minister said. The land settlement for residential cases will be made for the time being, and commercial cases will be dealt with later, the minister said. In another major decision, the government approved setting up a Mental Health Authority for the welfare and treatment of psychiatric patients. The authority on mental patients will have nine government members and 11 non-government members. Review boards will be set up at the divisional level. "The government wants to help mental patients and their families. The authority will be set up to plan how such patients and their families can be helped. Also, the authority and review boards will decide on treatment facilities for such patients," Sharma said. The cabinet also approved setting up of a new super-specialty hospital in Indore at a cost of Rs237 crore, besides approving 970 posts for the hospital.